MRT3 ridership up by 30% in 2023

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) on Wednesday said its ridership has increased by 30% in 2023 compared to the 2022 record.

In a statement, the MRT3 said its ridership grew to 129,030,158 in 2023 from 98,330,683 in 2022.

MRT3’s average daily ridership also grew to 357,198, which is over 30% higher compared to the 273,141 record in 2022. The highest single-day ridership was recorded on August 22 with 450,298 passengers.

August was the month with the highest number of passengers in 2023, followed by October, September, and December, MRT3 said.

MRT3 officer-in-charge and Transportation Assistant Secretary Jorjette Aquino attributed the increase in ridership to the rail line’s enhanced reliability, effective maintenance program, and the return of on-site work following the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The continued effective maintenance and upkeep of MRT-3’s rehabilitated subsystems contributed to the improved reliability and efficiency of the rail line,” Aquino said.

"Our trains now receive necessary preventive maintenance and upkeep on time, while other subsystems such as tracks, signaling, and power are also properly maintained." 

The travel time from North Avenue Station to Taft Avenue Station is now only 30 to 45 minutes, according to Aquino. With 18 train sets, the headway is as short as 3.5 to 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, the MRT3 said a total of 220,706 passengers benefitted from its free rides in 2023. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News